Physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system

ABSTRACT

A physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system provides a PHY-NIM device and an attachable media access control (MAC) device. The PHY-NIM device interconnects with the attachable MAC device and the attachable MAC device interconnects to a network appliance where the network appliance does not have at least one of an internal network switch and a MAC device in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip of the network appliance. The PHY-NIM device interconnects directly to the network appliance without the attachable MAC device where the network appliance has at least one of the internal network switch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/O interface chip of the network appliance.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to network interface module design. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a physical layer networkinterface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system.

Computer networks allow computing devices to communicate with othercomputing devices. Users of the computing devices may send messages,such as electronic mail messages, to one another using a computernetwork.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation systemincludes: a PHY-NIM device; an attachable media access control (MAC)device; and where the PHY-NIM device interconnects with the attachableMAC device and the attachable MAC device interconnects to a networkappliance where the network appliance does not comprise at least one ofan internal network switch and a MAC device in a southbridgeinput/output (I/O) interface chip of the network appliance; and wherethe PHY-NIM device interconnects directly to the network appliancewithout the attachable MAC device where the network appliance comprisesthe at least one of the internal network switch and the MAC device inthe southbridge I/O interface chip of the network appliance.

A physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) device includes: atleast one Ethernet port that provides physical network layerconnectivity; a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) interconnection; andwhere the SerDes interconnection: provides connectivity of the PHY-NIMdevice to an attachable media access control (MAC) device and theattachable MAC device interconnects to a network appliance where thenetwork appliance does not comprise at least one of an internal networkswitch and a MAC device in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interfacechip of the network appliance; and provides connectivity of the PHY-NIMdevice directly to the network appliance without the attachable MACdevice where the network appliance comprises the at least one of theinternal network switch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/Ointerface chip of the network appliance.

A media access control (MAC) device includes: a serializer/deserializer(SerDes) interconnection; a peripheral component interconnection express(PCIe) interconnection; and where: the MAC device interconnects usingthe SerDes interconnection as an attachable MAC device to a physicallayer network interface module (PHY-NIM) device, and the MAC device withthe interconnected PHY-NIM device interconnect as a unit to a networkappliance where the network appliance does not comprise at least one ofan internal network switch and a MAC device in a southbridgeinput/output (I/O) interface chip of the network appliance; and the MACdevice is directly connectable to the network appliance via the PCIeinterconnection to interconnect the unit to the network appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The FIGURE is a block diagram of an example of an implementation of aphysical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation systemaccording to an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The examples set forth below represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the followingdescription in light of the accompanying drawing figure, those skilledin the art will understand the concepts of the invention and willrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

The subject matter described herein provides a physical layer networkinterface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system. The present technologyprovides a PHY-NIM device with a separate attachable media accesscontrol (MAC) device that allows the single PHY-NIM device/design to bereused across platforms. The PHY-NIM device may be connected to networkappliances that do not have an internal MAC device by use of theattachable MAC device. Additionally, the same PHY-NIM device may beconnected to network appliances that do have an internal MAC device bydirect connection of the PHY-NIM device to the network appliance. Assuch, cost savings, improved design reuse, and increased networkappliance to PHY-NIM connectivity options may achieved by use of thepresent technology.

The PHY-NIM device may be designed for a particular network link speed.For example, network link speeds for which the PHY-NIM device may bedesigned may include one gigabit per second (1G), ten gigabit per second(10G), forty gigabit per second (40G), and one hundred gigabit persecond (100G). For the network interconnection, the PHY-NIM device mayalso be designed with different connector form factors, such as RJ-45,small form-factor pluggable (SFP), SFP for 10G (SFP+), Quad SFP (QSFP),and a 100G form factor pluggable (CFP/CFP2/CFP4). For connection to anetwork appliance, the PHY-NIM device may be designed with aserializer/deserializer (SerDes) interconnection. As described in moredetail below, the SerDes interconnection may be used to interconnect thePHY-NIM device directly to a SerDes interface of a host networkappliance designed with a SerDes interface. Alternatively, the PHY-NIMdevice may be interconnected to a host network appliance designed with aperipheral component interconnection express (PCIe) interface byattachment of a MAC device that has both a SerDes interconnection and aPCIe interconnection.

Different types of attachable MAC devices with different internalelectronic components to support certain PHY-NIM devices may also bedesigned. For example, a network switch, network flow processor, orother hardware accelerated packet processing device may be designed.

It should be noted that conception of the present subject matterresulted from recognition of certain limitations associated withcomputer networking hardware design. For example, it was observed thatmodular hardware design conventionally incorporates all functionality toperform a particular task into a single package. It was observed thatthis previous technique of modular design was believed to reduce costsand item stocking codes. However, it was observed that there aresituations where the conventional incorporation of all functionality toperform a particular task into a single package results in increasedcosts because multiple different designs have to be created to accountfor network interface modules that may not connect to or function withcertain network appliances. For example, it was observed that certainnetwork appliance platforms contain an internal network switch or mediaaccess control (MAC) devices integrated into a southbridge chip thathandles input/output (I/O) functions as part of a chipset. Thesouthbridge chip, in conjunction with a northbridge chip, interfacesdifferent I/O platforms with a central processing unit (CPU) of acomputing architecture. However, it was further observed that not allnetwork appliance platforms contain these internal network switches orMAC devices integrated into the southbridge chip-set. As such, if anetwork appliance has its own internal network switch or MAC device aspart of its modular design, and a conventional PHY-NIM device also hasits own MAC device as part of its single-packaged modular design, thenthese two “modular” devices would not be able to be connected due tosignaling and connector incompatibilities at the device interface level.From this, it was further determined that this incompatibility resultsin a network appliance that cannot be connected to a physical network asa direct consequence of the prior conventional modular designtechnologies. From these observations and determinations, it was furtherdetermined that cost savings, improved design reuse, and increasednetwork appliance physical layer to PHY-NIM device connectivity optionsmay result from breaking the prior conventional modular design paradigm.It was determined that creating a PHY-NIM device with a separateattachable MAC device may allow a single PHY-NIM device/design to bereused across different network appliance platforms. This would allowthe PHY-NIM device to be connected to network appliances that do nothave an internal network switch or MAC device by use of the attachableMAC device, and would also allow the same PHY-NIM device to be connectedto network appliances that do have an internal network switch or MACdevice by direct connection of just the PHY-NIM device to the networkappliance. The present subject matter improves modular design andnetwork appliance interconnection to network physical layers byproviding for flexibility of use of a single PHY-NIM device designacross multiple target network appliance platforms, as described aboveand in more detail below. As such, improved cost savings and designreuse may be obtained through use of the present technology.

The FIGURE is a block diagram 100 of an example of an implementation ofa physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system. APHY-NIM device 102 is illustrated, and includes a physical layer circuitboard 104. The physical layer circuit board 104 includes one or moreEthernet ports 106 and a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) interface 108.For purposes of the present example, the terms “interconnection,”“connector,” and “interface” are used interchangeably for purposes ofdescription, though it is understood that an interconnection orinterface may also include wiring or printed circuit board traces tointerface a connector to other components and other circuitry, and thata connector may form a portion of an interconnection or interface.

The PHY-NIM device 102 may be interconnected to a host network appliance110 that has a network appliance printed circuit board 112 by directconnection to a SerDes interface 114, as represented by the dashed arrow116. Alternatively, the PHY-NIM device 102 may be interconnected to ahost network appliance 118 that has a network appliance printed circuitboard 120 by an adapted connection to a peripheral componentinterconnection express (PCIe) interface 122.

For the interconnection of the PHY-NIM device 102 to the host networkappliance 110, the host network appliance 110 may include one of aninternal network switch and a MAC device in a southbridge input/output(I/O) interface chip of the network appliance. As described above, thesouthbridge chip, in conjunction with a northbridge chip, interfacesdifferent I/O platforms with a central processing unit (CPU) of acomputing architecture. The southbridge chip, in conjunction with anorthbridge chip, are understood to form a portion of the networkappliance printed circuit board 112 circuitry as illustrated.

For the interconnection of the PHY-NIM device 102 to the host networkappliance 118, as described herein, the southbridge chip of the networkappliance 118 does not have an internal network switch and does not havea MAC device. As such, a MAC device 124 may be provided to perform theseI/O functions for the network appliance 118. The MAC device 124 mayinclude a MAC printed circuit board 126 that has a SerDes interface 128and a PCIe interface 130. As can be seen from The FIGURE, the PHY-NIMdevice 102 may be interconnected at its SerDes interface 108 to theSerDes interface 128 of the MAC device 124, as represented by the solidarrow 132, to form a sub-assembly 134 that may be interconnected to thehost network appliance 118 as represented by the dashed arrow 136. Thesub-assembly 134 provides both physical layer and media access controlnetwork connectivity functionality for the host network appliance 118.The southbridge chip, in conjunction with a northbridge chip, areunderstood to form a portion of the network appliance printed circuitboard 120 circuitry as illustrated.

As such, the PHY-NIM device 102 may be interconnected to differentlyconfigured host network appliances under different interconnectiontopologies, by use of an attachable and removable MAC device 124. Use ofthe core design of the PHY-NIM device 102 with the attachable MAC device124 expands the interface options for the PHY-NIM device 102, and allowsa single core design to be utilized across a variety of differentnetwork appliance installations. As such, the physical layer networkinterface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system may reduce costs, andincrease usability of a single core design of the PHY-NIM device.

As described above in association with The FIGURE, the example systemsand processes provide a physical layer network interface module(PHY-NIM) adaptation system. Many other variations and additionalactivities associated with a physical layer network interface module(PHY-NIM) adaptation system are possible and all are considered withinthe scope of the present subject matter.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, upon consideration of the aboveteachings, that certain of the above examples are based upon use of oneor more programmed processors. However, the invention is not limited tosuch example embodiments, since other embodiments could be implementedusing hardware component equivalents such as special purpose hardwareand/or dedicated processors. Similarly, computational microprocessorbased computers, micro-controllers, optical computers, analog computers,dedicated processors, application specific circuits and/or dedicatedhard wired logic may be used to construct alternative equivalentembodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art basedupon the teachings herein without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention. The subject matter was described to explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A physical layer network interface module(PHY-NIM) adaptation system, comprising: a PHY-NIM device; an attachablemedia access control (MAC) device; and where the PHY-NIM deviceinterconnects with the attachable MAC device and the attachable MACdevice interconnects to a network appliance where the network appliancedoes not comprise at least one of an internal network switch and a MACdevice in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip of the networkappliance; and where the PHY-NIM device interconnects directly to thenetwork appliance without the attachable MAC device where the networkappliance comprises the at least one of the internal network switch andthe MAC device in the southbridge I/O interface chip of the networkappliance.
 2. The PHY-NIM adaptation system of claim 1, where: thePHY-NIM device comprises a serializer/deserializer (SerDes)interconnection; the attachable MAC device comprises a complementarySerDes interconnection; the PHY-NIM device and the attachable MAC deviceinterconnect at the SerDes interconnection and the complementary SerDesinterconnection as an adaptation platform of the PHY-NIM device; and thePHY-NIM device with the attachable MAC device interconnect as a unit tothe network appliance that does not comprise the at least one of theinternal network switch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/Ointerface chip of the network appliance.
 3. The PHY-NIM adaptationsystem of claim 2, where: the attachable MAC device comprises aperipheral component interconnection express (PCIe) interconnection; andthe PHY-NIM device with the attachable MAC device interconnect as theunit, using the PCIe interconnection of the attachable MAC device, tothe network appliance that does not comprise the at least one of theinternal network switch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/Ointerface chip of the network appliance.
 4. A physical layer networkinterface module (PHY-NIM) device, comprising: at least one Ethernetport that provides physical network layer connectivity; aserializer/deserializer (SerDes) interconnection; and where the SerDesinterconnection: provides connectivity of the PHY-NIM device to anattachable media access control (MAC) device and the attachable MACdevice interconnects to a network appliance where the network appliancedoes not comprise at least one of an internal network switch and a MACdevice in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip of the networkappliance; and provides connectivity of the PHY-NIM device directly tothe network appliance without the attachable MAC device where thenetwork appliance comprises the at least one of the internal networkswitch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/O interface chip of thenetwork appliance.
 5. The PHY-NIM device of claim 4, where: the PHY-NIMdevice attaches to the attachable MAC device using a complementarySerDes interconnection of the attachable MAC device; and the PHY-NIMdevice with the attachable MAC device interconnect as a unit to thenetwork appliance that does not comprise the at least one of theinternal network switch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/Ointerface chip of the network appliance.
 6. The PHY-NIM device of claim5, where: the PHY-NIM device with the attachable MAC device interconnectas the unit, using a peripheral component interconnection express (PCIe)interconnection of the attachable MAC device, to the network appliancethat does not comprise the at least one of the internal network switchand the MAC device in the southbridge I/O interface chip of the networkappliance.
 7. A media access control (MAC) device, comprising: aserializer/deserializer (SerDes) interconnection; a peripheral componentinterconnection express (PCIe) interconnection; and where: the MACdevice interconnects using the SerDes interconnection as an attachableMAC device to a physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM)device, and the MAC device with the interconnected PHY-NIM deviceinterconnect as a unit to a network appliance where the networkappliance does not comprise at least one of an internal network switchand a MAC device in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip ofthe network appliance; and the MAC device is directly connectable to thenetwork appliance via the PCIe interconnection to interconnect the unitto the network appliance.